"Cameras d'Afrique: The Films of West Africa," a new monthlong series exploring the last 50 years of cinema from that era, opens Oct. 3 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Film Independent at LACMA and the Loyola Marymount School of Film and Television will present 21 narrative and documentary films, curated by Film Independent at LACMA's Elvis Mitchell. The series will also feature panel discussions and Q&As with some of the filmmakers.

The series kicks off at LACMA's Bing Theater with a double feature of Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's "Bye Bye Africa" and the U.S. premiere of "Grigris," Haroun's acclaimed drama that screened in May at Cannes. Haroun will participate in a Q&A with Mitchell.

The series continues Oct. 5 with screenings of Mama Keita's "L'Absence" and Gaston Kabore's "Buud Yam," followed by Q&A's with the filmmakers. Mitchell will also moderate a panel discussion on the state of West African cinema.

Other highlights of the festival include such vintage films as 1973's "Touki Bouki" and 1990's "Tilai."

"This series brings me such joy," Mitchell said in a statement. "Primarily because there's nothing more exhilarating to me than to expose people to exciting new filmmakers and film, let alone bring attention to the art of an area that deserves more attention than it's received in America."

Screenings will be held Tuesday and Thursday through October at the Bing, while community screenings and Q&A's moderated by Mitchell will be held at the LMU campus Monday evenings.

Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner -- better known as the pop star Sting -- will serve as the musical guest at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's annual Art + Film Gala, which is scheduled to take place Nov. 2.